Iqbal" is of Arabic origin and translates to "eloquent, articulate". It is a unisex name, though more commonly used for males. The name gained prominence through the works of Muhammad Iqbal, a renowned poet, philosopher, and scholar from India who played a significant role in the Muslim revivalist movement in South Asia during the late 19th to early 20th century.
The name Iqbal experienced a notable spike in popularity between 1990 and 1992 with five births each year, followed by a dip to three births in 1993, before rising again to nine in 1994. After fluctuating around the five mark until 2000, the name's overall annual average from 1990 to 2000 was approximately seven births per year, with a total of thirty-five recorded births during this period.